Whiffletree-plate



(No Model.)

J. M. LANE. WHIFPLETREE PLATE.

No. 538,922. Patented May "7, 18.95.

UNITE STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN M. LANE, OF OVID, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO ADOLPHUS OAR- BETTE AND MARCUS W. ROBINSON, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

WHIFFLETREE-PLATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 538,922, dated May 7, 189?. Application filed October 1, 1894:. Serial No. 524,658. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, JOHN M. LANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ovid, in the county of Clinton and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Whiffletree-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in whiffle-tree plates for vehicles of any description, and has for its object to do away with the straps or chains which connect the single or double-tree to the axle, to prevent the single or double-tree being rubbed by the wheels and to act as an evener, and my invention consists of two plates one of which is secured on the wagon-pole or cross-bar, and the other to the single or double-tree and adapted to bear and work upon the plate secured on the wagon pole or cross-bar.

In order that my invention may be fully understood I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a wagon-pole having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top view of the whiffletree-plates, showing them in their relative position. Fig. 3 is a top view of the lower or base plate, and Figs. 4: and 5 are re spectively side and end views of the plates.

Referring to the drawings: 1 represents a Wagon pole, 2 the double-tree pivoted thereon, and 3 the single-tree secured to the doubletree. 5 represents the lower base plate which is preferablyof rectangular form and provided with the flanges 6 of substantially wedgeshape and which are arranged in pairs at the front and back edges of the plate, and to leave openings at each edge thereof. As shown in the drawings these flangesare under-cut, but if desired this feature may be omitted and their faces made square. This plate issecured to the wagon pole as shown in Fig. 1 by means of bolts which pass through the bolt holes 7, or it maybe secured to the cross-bar of a pair of shafts...

8 represents the upper plate which fits and works upon the lower base plate, it being held thereon by the king bolt 10 which passes through the bolt holes 11 in the respective plates and through the whiffletree and wagon pole. If the plates are used on a pair of shafts this plate would be secured to the single tree. The said plate is formed with the reduced ends which fit in the openings at the sides of the base plate, and as the double-tree to which it is secured by means of the bolts which pass through the bolt holes 9 formed therein is moved the said plate has an oscillatory movement on the base plate. This.

movement causes the tapering sides of the upper plate to come into engagement with the tapering sides of the flanges. As shown in the drawings these tapering sides are beveled but if desired they may be made square.

The operation of the device will be readily seen. The opposite flanges on thelower plate prevent the single or double-tree being turned too far in either direction and in this manner prevent the single or double-tree being turned against the wheels. The plates also act as an evener, the forward flanges preventing any excessive amount of draft on either side of the pole.

Although I have shown myinvention as applied to a wagon-pole, it will be understood that the plates can be used on any style of pole or shafts.

Having thus described my invention, the following is What I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination, in whiffletree plates, of a lower base plate provided with undercut raised portions, and an upper plate working on the said lower or base plate and provided with beveled edges which bear against and lock with the undercut raised portions on the lower plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' 2. The combination, in whiffletree plates, of a lower base plate provided with the four raised flanges substantially wedge-shape, arranged in pairs upon the front and back edges of the plate to leave openings at the edges thereof and an upper plate working on said lower plate and formed with the reduced ends which fit between the flanges at the ends of the lower or base plate, and as the plate is oscillated to have the tapering sides of the plate bear against the tapering sides of the flanges substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

, JOHN M. LANE. Witnesses:

H. M. HIGH,

ADOLPHUS CARRETTE. 

